The Young Woman with Her Family and Her Beloved [The brothers]

8 We have a little sister, and she has no breasts.

What will we do for our sister on the day she becomes engaged?

9 If she is a wall, we will build a silver barrier around her.

If she is a door, we will barricade her with cedar boards.

[Bride]

10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers.

So he considers me to be one who has found peace.a 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon.

He entrusted that vineyard to caretakers.

Each one was to bring 25 pounds of silver in exchange for its fruit.

12 My own vineyard is in front of me.

That 25 pounds is yours, Solomon, and 5 pounds go to those who take care of its fruit.

[Groom]

13 Young woman living in the gardens, while your friends are listening to your voice, let me hear. . .

[Bride]

14 Come away quickly, my beloved.

Run like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.

a 1:13 Myrrh is a fragrant resin used for perfumes, embalming, and deodorizers.

a 3:7 A sedan chair is a portable chair for carrying a person of high position.

b 3:9 English equivalent of this phrase difficult.

c 4:4 Hebrew meaning of "beautifully-designed" uncertain.

d 4:9 "Brother" and "sister" are terms of endearment between lovers in ancient Near Eastern literature.

a 4:14 Calamus is a sweet-smelling spice.

b 4:14 Or "incense-producing trees."

a 6:4 Or "awe-inspiring as an army with flags."

a 6:8 A concubine is considered a wife except she has fewer rights under the law.

b 6:12 Song of Songs 6:13 in English Bibles is Song of Songs 7:1 in the Hebrew Bible.

c 7:1 Song of Songs 7:1-13 in English Bibles is Song of Songs 7:2-14 in the Hebrew Bible.

a 7:9 Or "flowing gently over lips and teeth."

b 7:11 Or "in the villages."

c 7:13 Mandrakes were thought to stimulate sexual desire.

a 8:10 In Hebrew there is a play on the words "peace" (shalom), "Solomon" (Shlomo), and "the young woman from Shulam" (Shulamith).

Introduction to ISAIAH.

Isaiah is a prophet-not a fortuneteller, but rather a person who knows God's mind and speaks God's words. A prophet tells the people how God wants them to live: "Stop doing evil. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Arrest oppressors. Defend orphans. Plead the case of widows" (1:16-17). Disobedience brings suffering, says the prophet, but God forgives those who return to him.

Isaiah's name means "God is my salvation." That is a good summary of the theme of this book, a sprawling collection of prophecies that leap from threats of doom and disaster to promises of peace and prosperity. Though God's people are endangered by internal corruption and foreign enemies, his hand continuously shapes history so that one day "all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our Elohim" (52:10).

The prophet Isaiah lived in a tumultuous time. During his nearly sixty years of prophesying, Assyrian armies destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. Assyria then threatened Jerusalem, and King Hezekiah of Judah desperately sought a protective alliance with Egypt. Meanwhile, Babylon was growing stronger. In the first 39 chapters, Isaiah condemns the sins of Israel, Judah, and the surrounding nations; chapters 40-66 feature God's promises of restoration and blessing. To better understand Isaiah's prophecies, look up their historical background in 2 Kings 14-20, 2 Chronicles 26-32, and Isaiah 36-39.

The major character in the book of Isaiah is God. "I am Yahweh, and there is no other. I make light and create darkness. I make blessings and create disasters. I, Yahweh, do all these things" (45:6-7). Here we see God's holiness, his hatred of sin, his judgment on oppressors, and his punishment of his own people when they worship other gods and act unjustly. At the same time we see God's compassion for the poor, the sick, the homeless, and the hungry; his boundless love and willingness to forgive; and his desire for all people to come to him, living in peace with each other. We also catch glimpses of the Messiah who is to come. He is variously called Immanuel, "God Is With Us" (7:14), the Prince of Peace (9:6), the shepherd who "gathers the lambs in his arms" (40:11), the servant who brings "justice to the nations" (42:1), and the "man of sorrows" who "was punished so that we could have peace" (53:3, 5). Our God is both fierce and just, but infinitely compassionate.

Key Names of God in Isaiah Yahweh, Yah LORD Qedosh Yisrael Holy One of Israel El, Elohim God Yahweh Tsebaoth the LORD Almighty, the LORD of Armies, the LORD of Hosts Adonay Lord, Master Melek King Sar Shalom Prince of Peace Ruach Spirit Shadday Almighty Elyon Highest Shopet Judge Elohim Chay Living God El Olam the Everlasting God Go'el Redeemer Ish Makoboth Man of Sorrows Ab Father ISAIAH.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20.

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30.

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40.

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50.

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60.

61 62 63 64 65 66.

1 1 This is the vision which Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw about Judah and Jerusalem at the time of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.

The LORD Accuses Israel of Sin 2 Listen, heaven, and pay attention, earth!

Yahweh has spoken, "I raised my children and helped them grow, but they have rebelled against me.

3 Oxen know their owners, and donkeys know where their masters feed them.

But Israel doesn't know its owner.

My people don't understand who feeds them.

4 "How horrible it will be for a nation that sins.

Its people are loaded down with guilt.

They are descendants of evildoers and destructive children.

They have abandoned Yahweh.

They have despised Qedosh Yisrael .

They have turned their backs on him.

5 "Why do you still want to be beaten?

Why do you continue to rebel?

Your whole head is infected.

Your whole heart is failing.

6 From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head there is no healthy spot left on your body- only bruises, sores, and fresh wounds.

They haven't been cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.

7 "Your country is devastated.

Your cities are burned down.

Your fields are destroyed right before your eyes by foreigners.

Your fields are devastated and taken over by foreigners.

8 My people Zion are left like a hut in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a city under attack."

9 If Yahweh Tsebaoth hadn't left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Israel's Corrupt Religion 10 Listen to the word of Yahweh, you rulers of Sodom!

Pay attention to the teachings from our Elohim , you people of Gomorrah!

11 Yahweh asks, "What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me?

I've had enough of your burnt offerings of rams and enough fat from your fattened calves.

I'm not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats.

12 When you appear in my presence, who asked you to trample on my courtyards?

13 Don't bring any more worthless grain offerings.

Your incense is disgusting to me, so are your New Moon Festivals, your days of worship, and the assemblies you call.

I can't stand your evil assemblies.

14 I hate your New Moon Festivals and your appointed festivals.

They've become a burden to me, and I'm tired of putting up with them.

15 So when you stretch out your hands in prayer, I will turn my eyes away from you.

Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen because your hands are covered with blood.

The LORD Invites Israel to Turn Away from Sin 16 "Wash yourselves! Become clean!

Get your evil deeds out of my sight.

Stop doing evil.

17 Learn to do good.

Seek justice.

Arrest oppressors.

Defend orphans.

Plead the case of widows."

18 "Come on now, let's discuss this!" says Yahweh.

"Though your sins are bright red, they will become as white as snow.

Though they are dark red, they will become as white as wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.

20 But if you refuse and rebel, you will be destroyed by swords."